There will be a Shock team going in which will be made up of players who play on the NXL team but this isn't really the issue as this has been on the cards for quite some time, what is important here is the reaction of the NXL.
All the NXL can do now is open up and allow players to play where they like otherwise they (NXL) are in real trouble.
The NXL have no choice at this point as the other option of putting down an outright mutiny would be disastrous!!!!
The problem from then on is this; the players who want to play on other circuits (who will probably be now green lighted) will have to fund this on their own in some cases.
The NXL franchise owners and sponsors are already racked out when it comes to throwing money into these teams.
Close is the time when some people may be looking critically at whether this investment is going to pay dividends.
Something substantial has got to happen with regard giving the investors confidence in the success of the product.
I hear a statement regarding this may be made in a few weeks....we shall see.
What we have here is a three pronged problem :-
The potential success of the NXL is wholly dependant upon Dick Clark, now even if he has the same resolve to put the NXL on TV (and I am told he has) then it remains to be seen whether his timescale of events is going to be consistent with the NXL survival possibilities.
After all, while Dick Clark sits there scratching his nuts, the sponsors and backers of these NXL teams are spewing money from their pockets like there's no tomorrow.
The second problem is one of personalities, there's a saying that 'politics makes strange bedfellows' and the lure of money can do the same.
The promise of large profits can allow a situation where people who would not normally work together, work as partners.
Petty and perhaps profound differences are temporarily put aside for the purpose of profit.
This is all well and good as long as the path ahead is assured and not too extended...I believe that situation can now begin to cause real problems as recent events have suggested.
The third and final problem is one of player base, if you ain't got teams and players, and I am talking about top teams and players, then you ain't got nothing, it remains to be seen how much more the NXL will hemorrhage players and teams before the holy grail of paid wages is bestowed upon its members.
The XBall format is undoubtedly the future for our sport, I just think the PSP may not have been the best vehicle to promote it.
It seems like a clear example of cutting off your nose to spite your face. Why would the leaders of the paintball industry be so foolish? I guess I have the benefit of hindsight. The exclusivity thing has always seemed like a way to strike at a business competitor (poorly) disquised as another way to regard the athletes like real professionals. 